Frequently Asked Questions

How do I start playing?

First, configure your game by selecting a board size and a game mode. To do this, tap the respective button until its icon reflects your preference.

Next, turn dictionary and sound on or off as you wish. This is also done by tapping their buttons.

Finally, tap the "NEW GAME" button to start playing.

You can also recover an incomplete game. To do this, tap the "RETRY LAST" button.

Why can't I use the configuration buttons?

Some advanced options require game experience and may be disabled when you first start playing. They will become available as you progress in the game.

What are the game modes?

Word Sweeper features an exercise mode and several timed modes with increasing difficulty. Any of these modes can be combined with a board size to configure your game.

The exercise mode is represented with a "duck" icon and the timed modes have icons indicating their difficulty.

How do I play?

When you start a game, Word Sweeper displays a grid of letters, called a "board". A board contains words hidden among random letters. Length and difficulty of these words will depend on the game configuration. Your objective is to find these words.

To play, first select the first letter of a word by tapping on it. Keeping your finger on the screen, drag across the remaining letters in order and release to confirm your selection. You can only choose a letter that is to the right, left, top or bottom of the previous letter.

After you confirm your selection, Word Sweeper will replace the selected letters with new ones. If your selection does not spell a valid word, it will be cancelled and the letters will return to the board.

Longer words award more points. So does finding them quickly.

How do I play in exercise mode?

In exercise mode, you keep finding words in a board indefinitely. Whenever you want, you can tap the refresh button for a new board.

How do I play in timed modes?

In timed modes, you still find words in a board, but the board has a maximum lifetime. When that time is up, it is automatically marked complete and a more difficult one is generated. A board is also completed if you reach the maximum score for that board with remaining time awarded as bonus. In timed modes, you are given a finite number of boards per game and the objective is to maximize your score before they are all spent.

When a board is completed, Word Sweeper displays a debriefing screen which summarizes your performance, awards points for your achievements and hearts for your progress.

Hearts can be spent by tapping on the heart button. Spending a heart selects a word for you and can be used when you are stuck.

How do I use the dictionary?

Word Sweeper features an automated dictionary. To use it, turn it on before playing and it will display meanings of the words as you find them.

Note that you might need an active Internet connection for this feature.

Can I continue my last game?

You can recover an incomplete game. To do this, tap the "RETRY LAST" button.

The recovery feature allows you to retry the last board in the game, but not any of the earlier boards.

Can I view my past games?

Word Sweeper remembers your past games. To see them, tap the "HISTORY" button to enter the history section.

The history section lists your most recent and highly scored games in each game configuration. You can filter the listed games using the game configuration filter buttons.

What language is Word Sweeper in?

Word Sweeper only features an English user interface at this time. The words in boards are spelled in British English.